Heat advisory in effect starting Sunday in Salem
With temperatures expected to reach nearly 100 degrees this weekend, the National Weather Service is urging people in the Salem area to stay hydrated and find a cool place to rest in the afternoons.
The weather service issued a heat advisory, which starts at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 14, and will last through Tuesday night. During that time, people will be at increased risk of heat-related illnesses.
It will be hottest on Sunday, which is forecasted to reach a high of 98 degrees, and Monday which could reach 100 degrees. Things will begin to slightly cool Tuesday, which will reach a high around 90, according to the weather services’s forecast.
“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in a cool place during the heat of the day, stay out of the sunshine, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the advisory said.
The weather service recommended staying in air conditioning when possible, or using fans if that is not available. The advisory recommended keeping windows closed during the day and open at night.
For those outside, the advisory recommended additional precautions such as lightweight and loose fitting clothing, and avoiding outdoor exercise during the day.
Whenever temperatures are over 90 degrees, state law requires that employers provide workers in those temperatures access to cool drinking water, shaded or air-conditioned areas and 10 minute rest breaks at least every two hours. When temperatures reach 100 degrees, those breaks must be 15 minutes every hour.
The Oregon Health Authority shares warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke on its website, which include nausea, dizziness and heart rate changes. Those with signs of heat stroke should call 911 immediately.
The city will open all of its spray fountains, which provide a place for families to play and cool down at local parks, by Monday, June 15, according to city spokeswoman Nicole Miller. See a list of locations and hours here.
The Salem Public Library has air conditioning and is open on Sunday, but not Monday. Its Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The ARCHES Day Center will open its downtown cooling center on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Monday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. according to its website. The cooling center is located downtown, at 615 Commercial St. N.E., and pets are allowed. It provides an air conditioned space, beverages and other cooling supplies like neck wraps.
Cherriots provides free bus rides to cooling centers. No proof is required, riders just need to tell the driver they’re heading to a cooling center.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
